"Here." She held out an amulet of dark, polished wood to him.

"The alchemic symbol for mercury," he said pensively, taking it and fingering it…with his left hand, she noticed.

Her cheeks flushed with modesty. "I made it for you," she said softly, avoiding his golden eyes. She knew that if she looked him in the face, he would see the tears the threatened to drop down her cheeks. Why did he have to go?

He looked at her face, and a mixed expression played across his features: sadness, guilt, regret, and an effort to mask them all. He gave her a small smile, and suddenly turned away.

She looked up as he turned his back, her face doing what her throat could not and imploring him not to go.

However, Edward didn't walk out of the door to join Al outside. He clapped his hands together and dropped to his knees, and the crackling, dancing light of alchemy shone from beneath his fingers.

She choked down a gasp, startled out of the grip of her emotions by the suddenness of Ed's actions.

Edward turned back to her and smiled, holding out an amulet to her. It was of the exact same shape and size as the one she had given him…with one major difference.

"Mercury," she said softly, almost incredulously, regarding the silver-white, liquid metal inside the transparent shell.

"Sealed in an encasement of diamond," Ed said just as quietly. He took her hand gently in his and placed the amulet inside it.

He raised his eyes to meet hers. They held each other's gaze for a time; a time short in reality, but a time which neither of them could measure.

Suddenly Ed released her hand and turned away. "We have to go," he said, sounding more like he usually did. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and walked towards the door.

"Take me with you."

Ed stopped. His head lowered, shadowing his face underneath his bangs. "I can't."

The door closed. Slowly, she placed the amulet around her neck.


Author's Notes:

Yes, I am very new at fanfics, and yes, this is my very first one. I have a strong fetish with original characters, 'cause as a writer and a role-player I'm used to coming up with my own. I know that I don't even give the girl's name yet, or what happened to bring this situation about, but more is to come in the following chapters, I promise! Please don't kill meeeee!